The State of Trails in Pennsylvania Lauren Imgrund Deputy Secretary DCNR, Conservation & Technical Services www.dcnr.state.pa.us Since 2014 Eastern Pennsylvania Greenways & Trails Summit • Completed the State Rec Plan and Trail Strategic Plan • Designated the Top 10 Trail Gaps, 4 in eastern PA • DCNR awarded $15.65 million in trail grants, $5.4 million in east • 11,372 open trail miles mapped in ExplorePAtrails.com serving approximately 8,000 users per month www.dcnr.state.pa.us Manayunk Bridge • Connects Montgomery County with Philadelphia • Cynwyd Trail to The Schuylkill River Trail • Local Trail to Major Greenway www.dcnr.state.pa.us Seven Tubs Acquisition • Secured 2.5 miles of D&L Trail • Closer to reaching the D&L Trail’s northern terminus in Wilkes Barre • Partnership – North Branch Land Trust – D&L National Heritage Corridor – DCNR, Bureau of Forestry www.dcnr.state.pa.us Ironton Rail Trail • Trail complete to its western terminus • Increased IRT open trail mileage to 9.2 miles • IRT’s 20th Anniversary, June 2016 • Connection needed between the D&L and Ironton www.dcnr.state.pa.us Natural Connections 2014-2019 Pennsylvania Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan www.paoutdoorrecplan.com www.dcnr.state.pa.us Pennsylvania Land & Water Trail Network Strategic Plan Recommendations: 1. Close priority trail gaps 2. Coordinate state & federal funding 3. Cultivate diverse partnerships 4. Develop a statewide marketing strategy 5. Connect community assets 6. Elevate maintenance & rehabilitation 7. Promote economic, environmental, and public health benefits www.dcnr.state.pa.us A Trail Within 15 Minutes of Every Pennsylvanian • Equitable • Working on methodology to more accurately track • Currently, 40% live within 1 mile of an open or planned trail • How will we achieve? www.dcnr.state.pa.us Closing Priority Gaps Erie to Pittsburgh Trail 174 Miles – 66% complete Lackawanna Greenway (LRHT and D&H) 70 Miles – 75% complete Great Allegheny Passage D & L Trail 150 Miles – 100% complete 165 Miles – 88% complete Schuylkill River Trail 130 Miles – 50% complete www.dcnr.state.pa.us Priority Trail Gaps www.dcnr.state.pa.us Top 10 Trail Gaps www.dcnr.state.pa.us Top Gaps in the East Jim Thorpe Bridge Bridge Street Gap www.dcnr.state.pa.us Wissahickon Gateway Spring Garden Partnerships Collaborative Workshop on Walkable Communities presented by America Walks www.dcnr.state.pa.us A Regional Approach www.dcnr.state.pa.us DCNR Strategic Initiatives DCNR Trail Funding • 2017 DCNR Trail Funding Priorities • Closing Priority Trail Gaps • Maintaining & Upgrading Trail Networks • Grant round opens January 23, 2017 • Grant round closes April 12, 2017 • Grant workshops will be held in November • Start talking to your Regional Advisor www.dcnr.state.pa.us PA Trails Advisory Committee • Currently accepting nominations for three open positions on the 2017 Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee • Water trail users • Horseback riding • Member-at-large • All nominees must submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected] by Oct. 28, 2016 www.dcnr.state.pa.us Celebrating PA Trail Successes Trails Annual Report Trail of the Year • Provide your 2016 trail • Nominations for 2017 trail accomplishments – of the Year will open this announcement coming fall – announcement soon coming soon • Check out the previous • All trails are eligible – In Trails Annual Reports on 2016 it was the Standing the DCNR Trails Advisory Stone Trail Committee website www.dcnr.state.pa.us SAVE THE DATE! The 2017 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails Summit will be in Reading, September 24-26 Wyomissing Creek Trail Angelica Creek Trail www.dcnr.state.pa.us www.dcnr.state.pa.us .